We are excited to announce the completion of our freshly-designed 16 foot banners at the Centennial Concert Hall. Newly launched (as of Monday), the banners show off the 4 main entertainment draws the Concert Hall provides; The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, The Manitoba Opera, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and of course the many concerts the center brings. The banners mark the completion of the first phase of brand signage. We are currently continuing the execute the new brand as we develop the new website, set to launch early in the New Year. Once again, stay tuned.
When we began working with the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation in April of 2008, the organization needed help. They hadn’t had a proper brand in their 40 year history, and they needed to make sure that the Centennial Concert Hall remained relevant. There were many questions to be asked and answers to be obtained before we could begin the branding process. What were our overall goals and objectives? Were we addressing the venue or the corporation? How would each approach affect the other variables involved? What was the public perception, if any? After much discussion and debate, we resolved our first task: Create a world-class brand for the Centennial Concert Hall. We began what was to be many hours of research and development, and in the end, presented four separate solutions. After rigorous debate both internally and with their Board, we proceeded in one clear direction and began our development of their brand personality. We are ecstatic at the results of what was an oft difficult, but greatly rewarding process. We are now proud to present the summation of that process. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
One of my well-known passions is hockey. Being a hockey fan I get to experience the pure adrenaline, ecstasy and frustration that comes with the sport. But being a designer, I get to take a closer look at the art of branding an organization. One might argue that an organization’s success is determined by the talent on the ice and the coaches behind the bench. However, it goes much further than that. Like every organization we work with, the success of a team starts with their brand. A team’s logo, colours and philosophy are a jumping-on point for not only the fans, but the players, coaches, management and staff. The most successful teams foster a culture that is embedded in the very jersey that represents them. The best logos, in their current forms much like their originals, do not follow any trends and therefore have authenticity and accessibility. I strongly believe in consistency, and in my opinion, very few organizations today respect this important element. Look no further than the examples presented below to see how those teams who stick to their brand have been some of the most successful. Coincidence? You tell me.
Well, I just got back from Toronto, and as much fun as I had in every possible capacity, there was one subject above every other that I could hardly wait to write about. That subject is Steam Whistle Pilsner, a microbrewery which calls Toronto home. Located in the former CPR Roundhouse in the heart of downtown, this company is a perfect example of what proper branding can be. Born of a simple idea from “Three Fired Guys” to provide a world class beer with a world class brand, the culture “brewed” within the walls of the factory was highly contagious. I noticed a genuinely warm atmosphere where each employee bought into the philosophy that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Their unique approach can be felt at every level of the company, from the processes in the tanks (four ingredients, all natural, lengthy fermenting times) to the bottle (using an original 1950’s mould which had to be rebuilt) to the unique packaging (the 12 pack is a suitcase with two rows of six bottles filling its cardboard walls). Furthermore, the brand is consistent at every touchpoint, using it’s three-colour formula and logo creatively across all platforms. Please check it out personally the next time you’re in downtown Toronto, I highly recommend it.
Keep your eyes peeled for our September launch of the Centennial Concert Hall brand. 16 months in the making, hundreds of hours of R & D, several dozen meetings and a lot of blood sweat and tears have brought us very close to our launch date. We look forward to Phase 1 of development which includes a logo, stationery package, wayfinding signage, uniform creation and a brand manual. More to come in just 2 short weeks.
Fluid Design has a really great case study on the creation of the logo for “Hello Digital”, a showcase of sights, sounds and dreams which took place this past October in Birmingham. The case study is a good representation of how much work truly goes into finding an appropriate solution.
OK, so maybe we didn’t rebrand the entire world but this is about as close as anyone will ever get. Folklorama is the world’s largest cultural festival and we led them through a strategic plan and re-branding exercise. Now our favourite cultural festival looks as world class as it is.
After years of debate the truth is finally out there. Women prefer men with hair on their heads. This playful campaign for the Sheps Hair Transplant Clinic was launched at the end of June, much to the disappointment of men who thought back hair was the bomb.
Keep your eyes peeled for these Neuhaus-designed parking permits, coming to a dashboard near you. Soon to be launched along with a marketing campaign and online contest, these pre-purchased parking permits will make digging for change a thing of the past.
Boasting an impressive product line, the Chocolat Factory out of Africa is an handsomely packaged chocolate company brought to you by the talented branding team at the Ruiz Company.
